Summer Time Products

I must admit I should have been more faithful about wearing sunblock over the years. I have always tanned fairly easily, and I actually forget to put on sunblock. I love the sun and the desert like heat of Southern California, and I am even one of those odd souls who prefers to turn off the air conditioner through the summer. My sister and I have large battles over running the conditioner, and I usually turn it on just to keep her comfortable. However, when I am home alone I am happy without the air conditioner, and I even like walking in the summer heat of around a hundred degrees. I walked three miles the other day in hundred degree heat and it really did not phase me that much. However, I always hydrate by drinking plenty of water, and I enjoy being out in the summer sun. During the rest of the year in Southern California the temperatures can range between the fifties to the eighties, and I often forget to wear sunblock during those months. I really need to make a concerted effort to put it on more often because this is my skin, and I need to protect it! However, my excuse is running late for work, so now I have tried to build a plan for applying sunblock on the go. This is my summer plan for getting out the door and too work in a jiffy.  Also, I have included a few other tips on how to cut out time when getting ready for work in the summer.

I love to take a shower prior to work so I will feel fresh and clean in the summer heat. The last thing I want to do is sweat all day and then wait until I go home to take freshen up. Another benefit of showering before work is having wet hair, which allows me to easily style and get out the door. In the winter I often prefer to shower at night and maybe even use my hot hair brush to dry my hair. However, in daily temperatures around a hundred degrees there is very little need for using the hair dryer. Not only does this minimize on heat damage to my hair, but I also find it much more manageable to work with just out of the shower.

During the summer my hair is much less frizzy because I am not using the hot air brush, and allowing it to dry in the sun has been the redeming factor. Sometimes I even put my hair in a partial braid, and when I take it out later my tresses are shiny and wavy. When I wash my hair I actually use more conditioner than recommended, but through personal experience I have learned this has made my hair more manageable. Sometimes you just have to know what works best for your own hair, and following what works for someone else is not always he best way. I know my hair stylist says just use a tiny bit of conditioner, but I have found using more makes my hair more tangle free, which helps to cuts down on the amount of other styling products I need. However, use a little bit of hair spray and mouse in your hair if wet styling is not your thing, but I guarantee using the sun as a hair dryer can be just as effective as an electronic device. Also, I do not know about you, but blowing hot air on the back of my kneck and head before work in the summer heat would make me feel like I was in a sauna.

One thing done consistently is to apply a face lotion with an spf of at least fifteen. Specialized face lotion with sunblock is ideal because the regular kind can make many people break out when applied to their face. There are several face lotions that enjoy using year around, but the summer time is an especially important part of the year for using these.

Clinique City Block is one of my favorite all time face lotions. I usually would buy the SPF 25, but you can purchase higher protection if desired. Dermatologists recommend using an SPF on the face of at least fifteen, which is ideal if you are in the sun perspiring quite a bit. The compact size of Clinique City Block makes it easy to throw in a purse and take with you on the go. I absolutely love this product, but it is priced slightly higher than drug store brands since it either has to be purchased at a department store, or online.

One time I bought a lovely bottle of City Block on sale, but I accidentally put it down to wash my in the restroom at the mall. Always keep a good eye on small products such as these because when I went back ot find my lotion it was gone! I felt very sad for losing my lotion since I usually splurge to buy this kind.

Applying sunblock to the body is a crucial step in skin protection.  Since I am often lax about applying sunblock before I go out, I like to make it part of my daily routine after showering, which can often take moisture out of your skin.  Simply rehydrate the skin by applying sun tan lotion before heading out the door.  I prefer to buy the affordable stuff af the drug store, and I even find some great bottles of Hawaiian Tropic SPF 45 on sale at the dollar store.  Keep an eye out for deals on sunblock, and often the store brands are just as effective as the name brands.  Have fun in the sun, but make sure to apply sunblock and wear a hat to prevent dermatological damage.